Log and Timber Home Living Cozy Cabins 2021

For generations, cabins and cottages have been linked to summer vacations along the shore, weekend getaways in the woods and general fun and frolic — and for good reason. They’re a part of our heritage. Take the Great Camps of the Gilded Age, for example. Even the well-to-do — the likes of the Vanderbilts, the Astors and the Rockefellers — who had every luxury at their fingertips, sought an escape from the daily grind of the city and headed to their rustic retreats in the mountains and lakes of the Adirondacks. It’s no different today. We’re all searching for a physical and emotional escape, and most of us find it by heading back to nature — ideally in a remote camp of our own. In fact, in the wake of the year-and-a-half…

For those who seek a heavenly cabin-away-from-home, there are a few universal truths: A desire for a peaceful setting; outside living areas that capture spectacular views; a floor plan that fosters time with family and friends; and (typically) a design that is the polar opposite of their primary residence. Owning a second home may feel like a pipe dream, but there are many valid reasons to take the second-home ownership plunge. First, you’ll always have a vacation destination that’s perfectly suited to your needs, you won’t have to throw your money away on hotels, and your pets are always welcome. Second, real estate is a strong investment, and with housing prices on the incline, there’s never been a better time to dive in. Third, depending on your plans to use the home, you can…

In small-scale homes, there’s a fine line between cozy and confining. Read on for our top tips to tread on the right side of that divide. ▪ Minimize halls and transitional spaces. One way to conserve space is to ensure your design elements pull double duty. For example, a staircase can reduce the need for an interior partition if it functions as space divider as well.▪ Focal points matter. In smaller spaces, use a focal point like a fireplace or a window wall at the far end of the room to draw the eye. It will make the house feel more spacious without added square footage.▪ Maximize the open floor plan. Good news: Airy layouts already feel bigger than they are. For example, combining a great room, kitchen and dining room…

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Perched atop a hill that overlooks a lake in rural Missouri, a rugged little post-and-beam farmhouse serves up equal portions of place-appropriate architecture and irresistible charm. In addition to the lake, the dwelling stands sentry to fields of wildflowers planted by homeowners Jim and Anna Blair five years ago. Milkweed, blackeyed Susans and swaths of sunflowers hum with busy bees and swooping butterflies. Jim and Anna are advocates for wildlife habitat conservation and self-sufficiency, including producing their own food. The grasses and wildflowers feed the resident big game wildlife, as well as the bees, which in turn support the couple’s gardens, orchards and beehives. Collectively, these resources fill the kitchen pantry. “It all comes from a love of the land,” Anna says. To understand the place is to understand the house. At 2,300…

Before his log cabin was ever on the ground, James Riter had his family and neighbors over for a visit. The truth is, they were there to lend their creativity and construction knowledge to the project of a lifetime for James, a Massachusetts resident who wanted a quiet weekend retreat for himself and his three daughters — Ashley, 21, and 19-year-old twins Emily and Sarah — in the familiar surroundings of Sunapee, New Hampshire. Moose Rock Lodge, named for James’ favorite animal and his ongoing passion for building stone walls and other features on the property, is a three-bedroom, two-bath log beauty that, according to James’ friend and the home’s builder, Dundee Nestler, is perfect in just about every respect. But perfection takes planning … and more planning. The home began to take…